Sliding drawer construction



July 21, 1953 c. M. ABuHAMsoN ET AL SLIDING DRAWER CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 6, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS.

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ATTORNEYS.

July 21, 1953 c. M. ABRAHAMSONI ETAL SLIDING DRAWER CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 6, 1949 INVENTORS.

. M .f/zaa 5y ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 21, 195.3

SLIDING DRAWER CONSTRUCTION Charles M. Abrahamson and Karl P. Grube', Aurora, 111., assignors to All-Steel Equipment Inc., a corporation of Illinois Application December 6, 1949, Serial No. 131,400

9 Claims. (Cl. 312-346) This invention relates to drawer slides, particularly thoseused in desks and cabinets.

The main objects of this invention are to provide'improved means for .slidably supporting a drawer on housing guides so as torender the sliding movement of the drawer quiet and facile; to provide an improved construction and arrangement of special composition buttons on the drawer slides and the housing guides to carry the weight of the drawer in its sliding movements; to provid an improved form and mannerof stamping the drawer slides which minimizes the waste of material; and to provide a drawer mounting and locking means of this kind which is economical to manufacture and highly efficient in use.

In the particular embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional elevation of a desk pedestal showing the drawer slide and guide channel mountings and the locking means for a tier of drawers;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional detail of the locking means, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are perspective viewsof the several forms of composition buttons which slidingly support the drawers for movement on the desk pedestal;

Fig. 6 is a plan View showing how the right and left drawer slides are cut from a single piece of Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

The improved sliding drawer construction embodying this invention is shown applied to a metal desk having pedestals ID, one of which is shown, and is adapted to slidably mount a tier of drawers l i through the coaction of guide channels i Z and drawer slides i3, the channels and slides being equipped with specially formed drawer-support buttons l4, l5 and i6, and which drawers may be secured in their closed positions by a locking mechanism, generally designated l1. V

The pedestal is may be of any suitable construction. It is herein shown as formed of sheet metal and comprises pairs. of front and rear uprights I8 and 19 between which extend, sheet metal panels 20 and 2| and upon "which rests a desktop 22.

The drawer I l, wherewith this invention is associated, is also preferably sheet metal. It is formed in the usual manner with a depth "and width dependent upon the size ofthe pedestal. l0 and the number of drawers arranged therein. Along its upper edges, the drawer is formed wit reinforcing rims 23 (see Fig. 2)

The guide channels I2, as herein shown, are right and left sheet metal stampings, A pair for each drawer is secured in opposed relationship on the pedestal uprights i8 and 19." At the forward ends of these guides l2 the transvers flanges 24 and 25 terminate short of the end'of the channel base 26, as most clearly shown in Fig. 7.

Various lugs are struck out from the base 26 of each of the guides 12. The pairs of lugs 21 at the forward end and a lug 28 at the rear end provide for attachment of each guide channel to the pedestal'legs. The pairs of lugs 29 provide support for a locking bar 30, forming a part of the locking mechanism H, as will be described'more fully hereinafter. The lug 3| provides a stop for limiting the outward movement of the drawer l l. The drawer slides [3 are likewise right and left sheet metal stampings, as shown in Fig. 6. As indicated, a pair of slides is cut from a single piece of material, the part between the slide stampings l3 being usable for other purposes such as, for example, forming the locking bar 30. Each of the slides I3 is formed with spaced extensions or projections along one side face which are sub-- sequently formed toprovide a socket 32 at the forward end for retaining a cylindrical cushioning element 32' abutting the stop 35 as the drawer I I reaches its fully closed position, a stop33 for 00- acting with the locking mechanism ll, an upper flange 34 at'the rear end, and a shoulder 35 col5 and IE only a short upper flange 34 is required.

The elimination of theperimetrical portion for:- wardly of .the flangell i, except for the extensions which form the stop 33 and the shoulder 35 saves material and contributes to lightening overall weight. .7

The buttons [4, i5 and i6 provide the only points of contact between the guide channels !2 and the drawer slides l3. Their purpose is to make the sliding of the drawers much easier and more quiet than is afforded by the conventional direct metal-to-metal sliding contact. To that end, these buttons are formed of 'a material that has an inherent quality of lubricity so that they provide a smooth, slippery contact with the metal parts which they contact. The synthetic substance commonly known as nylon has been found to possess this quality of lubricity to a very acceptable degree, and in this particular embodiment, the buttons l4, l5 and 16 are formed of that material. The result is a drawer which shifts with the ease and quietness comparable to that obtained by the use of roller bearings. However, the cost of construction is materially less than that of a roller bearing construction.

Each button is formed with a stem 38, which is 'insertable with a tight fit in a suitable opening in either the drawer slide I3 or guide channel l2 for anchoring the buttons to the respective parts. A button 14 is secured to the upper face of the flange 34 of each of the drawer slides i3 at the rear ends thereof with the flange 39 on the button l4 extending over the edge of the flange 34 and contacting the base 26 of the opposed guide channel l2. A button I 5 is arranged on the upper face of the flange of each of the guide channels l2 adjacent the forward ends, with the button flange abutting the base 26 of the respective guide channel l2 and providing contact with the face 4| of the auxiliary flange 37 of the opposed drawer slide I3. The flange 3'! makes it possible a for a smooth face of the drawer channel to ride against the lip or flange 40 of the button l5, with the result that friction and noise are held to a minimum. When desired, a button 5 also may be secured to the underface of the flange 36 on 5 each of the drawer slides 13, slightly inward from the rear end of the slide, so as to bear on the inner face of the flange 25 of the opposed guide channel 12.

The locking mechanism I! comprises the looking bar 30, whereto is attached a detent 42 for J each drawer II in the pedestal I 0, and which bar is operatively connected to a lock 43 and normally urged by a spring 44 into its locking position.

The locking bar 30 is slidably supported between the flanged lugs 29 on the several channel guides [2 on one side of the pedestal it. The upper end of the bar is bent at right angles to provide an arm 45 which is connected to a locking bolt 46 for the lock 43. Fig. 1) are formed in the edges to permit the insertion of the bar 30 into the flanged lugs 29.

The detents 42 are preferably spring metal, each being anchored at one end to the locking bar 30 by one or more rivets 41. From the point of its fastening, each detent 42 is angularly disposed to the line of travel of a drawer H (see Fig. 8) so that the end of the detent is normally disposed in the path of travel of the stop 33 on the respective drawer. Hence, when the bar 30 is depressed, each detent 42 will engage its respective stop 33 and secure the corresponding drawer against being opened.

Being so formed and positioned, these detents 42 permit the operation of the locking bar 3% to secure any drawer in its closed position, notwithstanding the fact that one or more of the other drawers may be in a partially open position at the time the lock 43 is operated. If, when the bar 39 is thus shifted, a drawer is partially open, a sub- Recesses 30 (see sequent closing of the drawer will cause the inclined surface 49 on the stop 33 to deflect the detent 42 to permit the closing of the drawer, whereupon the detent 42 will spring into position shown in Fig. 8, to secure such drawer, along with the others, in its closed position.

The lock 43 may be of any suitable form. Preferably, it is mounted on the inner pedestal wall near the front so as to be conveniently accessible to one sitting at the desk.

The spring 44 is connected at one end to the arm 45 of the locking bar 30 and at the other end to a bracket 48 secured to the pedestal side 20 adjacent the lock 43.

Obviously, the invention may be variously embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim: I

1. A sliding drawer construction comprising, a housing having a drawer compartment, a drawer shiftable in said compartment, horizontally-disposed guide channels fixed on the sides of said housing, a slide longitudinally disposed along each side of said drawer and having a horizontal flange extending into the respective guide channels, buttons of lubric material secured at the inner ends of said slides to bear upon the underfaces of the upper flanges of each of said guide channels, and other buttons of lubric material secured to the upper faces of the lower flanges of said guide channels adjacent the forward ends thereof, said buttons providing the sliding contact between said guide channels and slides for the shifting of said drawer, said buttons each having a vertical flange portion, a horizontal body portion and a vertical stud portion, said first-mentioned buttons each having their stud portion passing through an opening in said horizontal flange of the slide, with the body portion resting on said horizontal flange and with the vertical flange portion overhanging the edge thereof, whereby said over-hanging vertical flange portion of the button prevents the slide from making contact with the adjacent portion of the guide channel and also prevents rotation of the button about the stud portion within said opening.

2. A sliding drawer construction comprising, a housing having a drawer compartment, a drawer shiftable in said compartment, horizontallydisposed guide channels fixed on the sides of said housing, a slide on each side of said drawer formed with a flange along its lower edge for reception in the opposed guide channel, said slide flange being turned upward along its perimeter to provide an auxiliary flange disposed parallel to the body of said slide and opposed to the base part of the web of said opposed guide channel, each of said slides also being formed with a transverse flange along the rear end thereof for reception in the opposed guide channel, buttons of lubric material secured to the upper and underfaces of said slide flanges adjacent the rear ends thereof and adapted to bear respectively against the inner faces of the upper and lower flanges of said guide channels, and other buttons of lubric material secured to the inner faces of the lower flanges of said guide channels to bear against the undersides of the lower slide flanges, said buttons providing the only contact between said drawer slides and said channel guides for the shifting of said drawer, said other buttons each having a vertical flange portion, a horizontal body portion, and a vertical stud portion, the stud portion of said other buttons passing through an opening in the lower flange of the guide channel with the horizontal body portion of the button b resting on the top faceof said lower flange, and with the vertical flange portion of the button extending upwardly and interposed between the web of the adjacent channel and said upwardlyturne-d margin-of the slide flange, whereby's'aid.

vertical flange portion of the button prevents physical contact between the slide and the adjacent channel at the forward end of the channel and also prevents rotation of the button about said stud portion.

3. A sliding drawer construction comprising, a housing having a drawer compartment,a drawer shiftable in said compartment, horizontally-dis- I posed guide channels fixed on the sides of said housing, a. slide on each side of said drawer formed with'a flange along its lower edge for reception in the opposed guide chan'neLsaid slide flange being turned upward along its perimeter to provide an auxiliary flange disposed parallel to the body of said slide and opposed to the base part of said opposedguide channel, each of said slides also being formed with a transverse flange along the rear end thereof for reception in the opposed guide channel, buttons of lubric material secured to the upper and underfaces of said slide flanges adjacent the rear ends thereof and.

adapted to bear respectively against the inner faces ofthe upper and lower flanges of said guide channels, and other buttons of lubric material secured to the inner faces of the lower flanges slides having a part thereof extending downwardly over the edge of said slide flanges and adapted to contact the opposed faces of the base of said guide channels and the buttons on said guide channel having a part thereof extending upwardly and disposed against the base of the respective guide channels and adapted to contact the opposed face of said auxiliary flange, said buttons providing the only contact between said drawer slides and said channel guides for the shifting of said drawer.

5. For .use as an anti-friction device in sliding drawers, a, one-piece button of lubric material having a flat body portion, a stud portion projecting laterally therefrom, and a laterally extending flange alongone margin of said body portion.

6. The button as set forth in claim 5 in which thestud portion projects laterally from said flat body portion in the same direction as said laterally extending flange.

7. The button as set forth in claim 5 in which the stud portion projects laterally from said flat body portion inthe opposite direction from said laterally extending flange.

8. For use as an'anti-friction device in sliding drawer constructions of thetype having a memof said guide channels to bear against the undersides of the lower slide flanges, the buttons on the rear. upper flanges of said slides having a part thereof extending downwardly over the edge of said slide flanges and adapted to, contact the opposed faces of the base of said guide channels and the buttons on said guide channel havin a part thereof extending upwardly and dispose-d against the base of the respective guide channels and adapted to contact the opposed faces of said auxiliary slide flanges, said buttons providing the only contact between said drawer slides and flange being turned upward along its perimeter to provide an auxiliary flange disposed parallel to the body of said slide and opposed to "the base' part of said opposed guide channel, each of said slides also being formed with a transverse flange along the rear end thereof for reception in the opposed guide channel, nylon buttons secured to the upper and underfaces of said slide flanges adjacent the rear ends thereof and adapted to bear respectively against the inner faces of the upper and lower flanges of said guide channels, and nylon buttons secured to the inner faces of the lower flanges of said guide channels to bear against the undersides of the lower slide flanges, the buttons on the rear upper flanges of said ber providedwith a horizontal wall, a button of lubric material having a body portion adapted to seat upon said horizontal wall, and having a stud portion normal thereto adapted to pass through a mating opening in said wall, said button also, including a marginal projection extending later- 1 ally from said body portion in a direction parallel to said stud portion.

9. The method of providing smooth sliding engagement between relatively sliding members of a drawer suspension in which one of said members includes a horizontal wall, which consists inmounting on said wall an anti-friction button of lubric material having. a body portion adapted to seat upon said Well, and having a stud portion normal thereto adapted to pass through a mating References Cited in the file of this patent opening, in said wall, said button-also including a marginal projection extending laterally from saidbody portion in" a direction parallel to said stud portion. 7'

CHARLES M. ABRAHAMSON. KARL P. GRUBE.

UNlTED STATES PATENTS Miller July 11, 1950 

